A Greener Concordia

Green wall to Blossom on Reggie’s Terrace

Guillaume Pouline works on the Concordia wall, he is a member of the Verticale Co-operative. Photo Clay Hemmerich

Concordia students will enjoy a greener Reggie’s terrace this fall.

Co-operative Verticale and Concordia University collaborated to build the school’s first green wall. Two large steel brackets—each approximately four feet by eight feet—are fixed to the wall on Reggies terrace on either side of an existing mural and filled with plants.

Members of Verticale Co-operative—including Guillaume Pouline, Jean-Phillipe Tremblay, Jean-Phillippe Thuot and Jusiane Philion—are ecstatic to be a part of the green movement in Concordia.

“We are very fortunate that the CSU gave us a chance [to build the Green Wall],” said Pouline. “We’ve never done anything like this before. This is very exciting for the [Co-operative Verticale].”

Pouline also explained that they had a contract in Hochelaga to do a similar project but it was ultimately cancelled.

The Green Wall project is just one of the university’s Sustainability Action Fund’s many initiatives.

“The Green Wall Project had been approved for Sustainability Action Fund money in Winter 2010 for a total amount of $12,500,” said Khalil Haddad, Chief Executive Officer of SAF.

“We have approved more than 12 projects in Fall 2009, 19 projects in Winter 2010 and eight projects in Summer 2010. Among the projects approved in summer, the team in charge of the Concordia Eats Festival has been doing a great job preparing for their amazing event this upcoming September.”

By taking these initiatives, Concordia Student Union VP Clubs and Sustainability Morgan Pudwell said that Concordia University is progressing in a positive manner in improving student space.

“The green wall is one step towards a big change,” said Pudwell. “With very little student friendly space on campus, projects like the green wall are extremely important.”

This article originally appeared in The Link Volume 31, Issue 02, published August 24, 2010.